“Gratuity Payments For Workers Who Retired From 2001 To 2010 Will Start Hitting Their Accounts Next Week,” — Ukoha Njoku Ukoha

The Abia State Government says Governor Alex Otti, is enjoying over 90% approval rating from Abians, citing improved security, infrastructure, healthcare, education and workers’ welfare as key drivers.

The position was contained in a statement on Friday, August 14, 2026, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha.

Ukoha said the administration remains focused on “fixing what was broken and building what is needed,” despite what he described as attempts by “a handful of frustrated irritants” to resurrect old narratives.

On pensions, the CPS said all pension arrears have been cleared and pensioners now receive full pensions promptly, with civil servants paid between the 26th and 28th of every month.

He noted that the outstanding issue is gratuity, which he said dates back to 2001 with a burden of over ₦61 billion left by successive administrations.

“The Gratuity Committee has faced delays reconciling disjointed and inconsistent data from the State Pension Office. I can guarantee that gratuity payments for workers who retired from 2001 to 2010 will start hitting their accounts next week,” Ukoha stated.

He added that the government is also defraying salary arrears owed to workers disengaged by past administrations, including benefits of former Local Government councilors.

On the alleged payment of less than minimum wage, Ukoha said Abia was the first state to commence implementation of the National Minimum Wage for all workers on the state payroll.

He explained that the exception was ASPMI&S, an agency he accused past administrations of using to “compensate political cronies” with cash payments and no accountability.

“On assumption of office, Governor Otti directed that the workers be integrated into the Ministry of Transport and onto the State payroll. The difficult integration and enrollment exercise is now complete. Those workers have started receiving minimum wage since last month,” he said.

Addressing claims that Abia receives ₦60 – ₦80 billion monthly from FAAC, Ukoha dismissed it as “misinformation and fake news.”

Citing records from the Federation Account Allocation Committee and Federal Ministry of Finance, he said Abia’s FAAC and JAAC receipts are consistently less than ₦25 billion monthly and can be verified on the official website of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“If we did earn ₦80 billion, Abians can be sure it would be applied judiciously and used to settle arrears left by them faster,” he added.

On the suspension of a professor at Abia State University, ABSU, Ukoha said public servants are prohibited under Nigerian Public Service Rules from publicly criticizing government policies.

“Public criticism of government is treated as serious misconduct and can attract sanctions ranging from interdiction and suspension to compulsory retirement or dismissal,” he said.

He argued that the outrage was “selective,” recalling that over 500 members staff of Abia State Polytechnic were allegedly sacked in the past “not for violating any rule, but for coming from a particular part of the State.”

Ukoha said supporters who met him in Aba commended the administration for:
freedom from fear through improved security; cleaner environment; upgraded primary healthcare centres; reversal of school migration from public to private; massive road infrastructure; cheaper modern transport; prompt salaries/pensions; improved electricity; and a friendly business environment.

“Abia is working. In any serious grading system, over 90% is a first-class: 70% and above. Governor Otti will not be distracted,” the statement concluded.